Scientists say that if we don’t take any action against climate change, we could lose two-third of its population by 2050 and lose all our polar bears by 2075. The polar bears are classified as vulnerable species and they are facing threat of extinction. Do you know that biggest culprit for their extinction is global warming?
Polar bears live in primary habitat of sea ice. The climate change is warming The Arctic twice as fast as rest of our earth. Since 1979, Arctic sea ice is decreased by 13% per decade.
When melting of ice starts, the polar bears come to the shore and wait for the ice to refreeze. During this period, they survive on their store fats. In search of food, they swim to longer distances by using their reserved fats. Melting of ice also affects their main source of food; the seals.
According to one research, if this fasting period of polar bears lasts for more than 05 months, it is likely that 15% of adult males and female would die of hunger.
Currently the global population of polar bears is around 26,000. The polar bears in Southern Beaufort have died and their number has dropped by 40%. Their number dropped drastically from 1500 to 900 between 2001- 2010.
The metabolic rate of polar bears is 50% higher than previous studies. That is why, polar bears need at least one seal every 10 days to survive and if they don’t get any food for 10 days, its metabolism slows down and it starts using the fat reserves. Within 10 days, its weight starts to lose as much as 20 kg.
Polar bears play very important role in overall ecosystem of sea. They are placed at top of the food chain. The length of adult polar bear is 3m and weight is almost 680 kg. Surprisingly, they can run at speed of up to 40KM/h. They can swim in water at speed of 10KM/hr. They can bear very low temperature of -36°C but their body temperatures remains stable at 31°C. Their sense of smell is very sharp. They can trace the seal at a distance of 32KM away.
The way of hunting of polar bears is very unique, even then only 2% of their hunting is successful. In the coming years, polar bears will face huge threat to their survival. If sea ice disappears due to climate change, all the sea ecosystem affects and number of polar bears also decreases.
Polar Bear has always been a source of attraction for me because my childhood memories are connected with the cartoonic version of PB. The intensity of the seasons is destroying the every single habitat of the species but after reading the blog the situation of PB seems quite critical.
On the other hand, i do not know this information about them, wow this is something amazing Munawar :)
Lets hop for the best conditions of this rare specie in the future,otherwise our kiddies will read them in the stories books, Alas!
I don't want to minimize global warming. Not in the slightest, we should be doing more, sooner.
But I hate making the Polar Bear the leading character in the fight. They basically have 30 years to change their hunting habits and pass those changes on to their young. Will that leave a breeding population? I think very probably.
It is true that the Beaufort zone has lost a frighting percentage of Bears. But there are 4 other zones and they are much slower with their losses and one has even gained population.
I think they are in trouble (I think most large mammals are) but I don't think they are critical yet. That can change.
It's a good post, well written. Thank you for it.
Wow.... it's very greet.....
Interesting facts. But what actions can we take against climate change?
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